h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Blimey, that's a tenuous little bugger, isn't it? What sort of shrub is it? Just so I know never to buy one

It's called Chaenomeles I'm not sure of the spelling. It's also known as ornamental quince. It's likely to survive drought, flood, earthquake, a nuclear explosion and the end of the world it would seem

So a plastic bag is probably fairly useless then

I've just spent an hour getting loads of invasive crap out of the pond, it's been a smelly bit of work, but it needed doing. The barley straw has been in there for ages and hasn't done a thing, it's meant to turn black when it's spent, isn't it?

I think the straw breaks down when it's been in the water a while.
I've never used it, as my pond is too small. I have got some good stuff, that is safe for wildlife and has worked when i've used it. It's called 'pond balance' by a company called Interpet. So far this year i've been free of blanket weed

I got a couple of bottle of water from a local wildlife pond this afternoon - apparently that's good for introducing lots of good organisms, and I think some help to control the weed. I also have a theory...

The shallows have become dominated in some parts by a kind of watercress, which has lots of thin roots. The warm water and web of roots make it perfect for the weed, and this goes really nicely with water fern (fairy fern). As the fairy fern spreads out, the weed joins it below the surface. Having found out how invasive fairy fern can be today and removed it, it might just start to improve.

I tried taking water from one pond and putting it in another, thats how i first got blanket weed!
I was reading about ponds too. Apparently if your pond is high in nutrients and calcium, this will encourage the blanketweed. Also sunlight adds to the problem aswell, but as pondlife needs sunlight it's not a good idea to block it out.
Some plants work better than others at lowering the nutrient levels, floating plants in particular. Frogbit is an excellent plant for this and it's native. Water lettuce and water hyacinth are also good.

Well, I say a pond - it's more like a lake! And it's blanket weed free

I'll look into those plants, thanks for the advice - you're a huge help

So, has the water level stayed as it should? Mine drops around 2 inches a week in this weather, so i top it up once a week, with water from the water-butt. I found water straight from the tap does upset the balance, however if you leave it to stand for a couple of the days it's fine.
Have you seen any signs of life in your lake?

Yes, mine has been dropping a bit more than that; I'm having to top it up with a hosepipe, which I know doesn't help, but I don't have a lot of choice. There are a fair few things scuttering around in the depths, a few snails dotted about, and if you peer closely you see little mites and stuff like that. I'm waiting for the dragonflies to come back

I still have the photo's of your dragonflies, such pretty creatures. With any luck they will breed in your pond again this year The larvae still make me cringe though
It's time i was'nt here. It's been nice chatting with you as always
G'night

Sorry, I was eating Goodnight!

Have you planted your seeds yet?

Ooh! Have you seen this thread?

F1979968?thread=4125218

Yes, i have seen it It was on my space when i logged on.
Thanks for pointing it out to me though
Hows things?

Not too bad, busy as ever! I've done a lot of work in my own bit of the garden, planting lots of climbers all over the trellises that I put up to replace the horrible barrier fence. As a result, I'm getting loads of birds coming into the garden

Thats great! You can never have too many birds in a garden
I was chatting to Neal about birds while we were at Kew, he mentioned a Blackcap which i had never seen. Imagine my surprise when i heard this chattering and singing in the trees at the side of my fence, it turns out it is a blackcap This little bird has been around for a week now, i'm so pleased it chose to come to my garden.

I got your birthday card the other day! Sorry, I've been too busy to come online and post a thank you, but it was a lovely surprise! So here you go...

Thank you very much!!!

Aaww I'm glad you liked it It was one of those 'I saw it and thought of you' type cards, and i reckoned it would appeal to your humour

It certainly did

Hiya Rich.
I have to ask, do you still want to sub the orchid project? I quite understand if you feel you would rather not do it, not that there is anything happening with it just now. I'm probably looking close to Autumn, when I have more spare time Keeping up with a large garden is proving hard work this year.....I is just getting olllld